WHYN Local News

STATE ECONOMY BETTER THAN MOST

A report says the Massachusetts economy grew at a stronger clip in the third quarter than the nation as a whole.

According to the MassBenchmarks Current Economic Index, the state's gross domestic product grew at an estimated annual rate of 3.5 percent in the July-September period.

The Commerce Department reported on Thursday that the U.S. GDP rose at a 2.8 percent annual rate in the third quarter.

The state GDP improved from a 1.7 percent growth rate in the second quarter, which was below the national rate of 2.5 percent.

The third-quarter report cited improved job growth, rising wages and stronger consumer spending. The report was missing September employment data due to a delay caused by last month's federal government shutdown.